and the diversity of the people;
some came to browse
and some to shop
was another lesson
in acceptance
and reminder
of how far
we have to go
as a society.
Diversity.
Diversity.
In the United States
we write laws.
We empower some people
with authority
to daily work
to create these laws.
We exercise
our right to vote,
putting people into offices,
positions of appointing,
managing and directing
the course of our lives
and of those
who come after us.
Grass Roots.
Grass Roots.
Movements with
vast technological networks
can grow from one person's idea
to hundreds, thousands and millions
of people actively engaged
in creating change.
A Beehive.
A Beehive.
NPR was just talking about bees.
How bees communicate in a hive
by moving and touching,
sending specific communication
through movements and through sound.
Humanity.
Humanity.
The internet
is our vast
hive of communication.
We move through
reaching out,
ouching people,
as this blog has,
around the world.
In a keystroke
In a keystroke
with the choice made
by another person
to look, to find,
to listen,
change can happen.
Grass Roots
Grass Roots
A Beehive
Humanity's Internet
AGEISM.
AGEISM.
Several aged over 60
came to the garage sale.
What's concerning
is how many
find themselves
depending on those
$1 and $2
very low priced items
to provide a little
of life's necessities.
Yes, there were
the "resellers",
most were trying
to augment
their limited incomes
from either retirement
or through low wage jobs.
I listen. I learn.
I listen. I learn.
I enjoy visiting
with these people
even more than
watching the items
gain another home,
another family,
a chance to be
part of living,
not just put away,
or forgotten.
Given "new life".
DIVERSITY.
DIVERSITY.
Two women returned
who'd visited the week before
and bought a couple of items.
The older woman had moved
into an Independent living facility.
She was in her mid 80's.
Her husband, she said,
had to live in a separate place
because he has Alzheimer's.
She was close enough, she said,
if they'd let her,
she could walk to visit him,
but, of course, she can't.
Out of fairness,
Out of fairness,
I know the two facilities,
there are two
heavily trafficked roads,
no real sidewalks;
it's an uphill climb
of quite a distance.
WHY TWO SEPARATE FACILTIES?
WHY TWO SEPARATE FACILTIES?
Why can't they live in the same place?
She could "walk" to visit him?
Most probably because their budget,
what they have available, I
s too much for Medicaid,
too small for many "buy in" places
where they could live
at the minimal level
of Independent living
and the higher level
of Alzheimer's specialized care.
Perhaps his Alzheimer's doesn't provide
Perhaps his Alzheimer's doesn't provide
a good environment for her
to directly live with him
on a constant basis.
You can see it's obvious
she wants to be with him,
talk to/with him,
close enough to be with him
when she chooses,
not just when someone
can make arrangements
to take her to him.
Perhaps they can't "share" a room;
Perhaps they can't "share" a room;
that adds dramatically to their costs.
THE SYSTEM OF ELDER "CARE"
THE SYSTEM OF ELDER "CARE"
IN THE UNITED STATES IS OBSOLETE
AND FAR BEHIND MANY OTHER COUNTRIES.
Less "wealthy" countries provide
CARE, CONSIDERATION AND VALUE THEIR OLDER POPULATIONS.
WHEN? Will our older generation, those who can no longer manage, care for or for whatever medical or other reasons, be on their own, be considered, be truly assisted and counseled and cared about by our supposed VAST RESOURCES BOTH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE to see the human side of life, of people, of relationships and WORK TO ENSURE SELF DETERMINATION AND SELF RESPECT are honored?
Diversity is age as well as skin color or personal orientation or being male or female.
My oldest son once told me the value of a person is determined by what they've made, the productivity, the money they generated and that can be directly attributed to them.
I sincerely hope he's grown up since then to realize contributions are made on a daily basis by every living thing, human and otherwise. People who are able, people with limitations.
I thought I'd taught him better but I realize his choices do not reflect mine and they do not reflect my success or failure but rather his individual decision.
DIVERSITY. Our aged and aging are valuable assets. Without them you would not have what you have, Americans and others -- freedom, homes, food, energy, inventions, life itself.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO ADVOCATE AND WORK FOR THEIR EQUALITY AND RIGHTS?
Are you busy living, going through your daily routines and facing the challenges of care and life for our aging population only when it happens to you? I understand, I did the same.
Although I shared a home for almost four decades and my mother lived with our growing and growing older family members all that time, I admit, my life was involved in so many other things it wasn't until I was directly involved with an immediate family member in the system of healthcare and personal care and other living situations that I became aware of the GROSS LACK OF REAL INFORMATION AND ACTUAL FACTS available.
Speak Up if you have information. Join with others on line. Contribute your experiences. Add your comments here.
MOST IMPORTANT: Ageism has proven to be a growing industry and provides jobs for people from the Executive Suite to the entry level position.
THE AGED CREATE JOBS, ADD TO THE GROSS NATIONAL PRODUCT.
THEY ARE HIGH LEVEL CONTRIBUTORS. We have benefited and we continue to benefit from their lessons and their contributions.
THEY ARE AS IMPORTANT A RESOURCE AS OUR CHILDREN AND OUR CHALLENGED WHO ARE NOT AGED.
WHEN? Will our older generation, those who can no longer manage, care for or for whatever medical or other reasons, be on their own, be considered, be truly assisted and counseled and cared about by our supposed VAST RESOURCES BOTH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE to see the human side of life, of people, of relationships and WORK TO ENSURE SELF DETERMINATION AND SELF RESPECT are honored?
Diversity is age as well as skin color or personal orientation or being male or female.
My oldest son once told me the value of a person is determined by what they've made, the productivity, the money they generated and that can be directly attributed to them.
I sincerely hope he's grown up since then to realize contributions are made on a daily basis by every living thing, human and otherwise. People who are able, people with limitations.
I thought I'd taught him better but I realize his choices do not reflect mine and they do not reflect my success or failure but rather his individual decision.
DIVERSITY. Our aged and aging are valuable assets. Without them you would not have what you have, Americans and others -- freedom, homes, food, energy, inventions, life itself.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO ADVOCATE AND WORK FOR THEIR EQUALITY AND RIGHTS?
Are you busy living, going through your daily routines and facing the challenges of care and life for our aging population only when it happens to you? I understand, I did the same.
Although I shared a home for almost four decades and my mother lived with our growing and growing older family members all that time, I admit, my life was involved in so many other things it wasn't until I was directly involved with an immediate family member in the system of healthcare and personal care and other living situations that I became aware of the GROSS LACK OF REAL INFORMATION AND ACTUAL FACTS available.
Speak Up if you have information. Join with others on line. Contribute your experiences. Add your comments here.
MOST IMPORTANT: Ageism has proven to be a growing industry and provides jobs for people from the Executive Suite to the entry level position.
THE AGED CREATE JOBS, ADD TO THE GROSS NATIONAL PRODUCT.
THEY ARE HIGH LEVEL CONTRIBUTORS. We have benefited and we continue to benefit from their lessons and their contributions.
THEY ARE AS IMPORTANT A RESOURCE AS OUR CHILDREN AND OUR CHALLENGED WHO ARE NOT AGED.
